Installation for filling drums with liquid yellow phosphorus

ABSTRACT

Liquid yellow phosphorus is filled into drums with the use of a filling nozzle or lance. The nozzle or lance substantially comprises a control tube provided with a plurality of perforations and connected at its top end portion to a cylindrical member which carries an eye for the connection of a control unit via a connecting piece of tubing. A nozzle supporting tube which concentrically surrounds the control tube and is provided in its upper part with a warm water inlet, carries at its bottom end a control cylinder with a control piston having a drilling running through it. The control piston is fixed to a nozzle tube via a conical bottom. At its top end, the nozzle supporting tube has a gland with a supporting flange, the nozzle tube concentrically surrounding the nozzle supporting tube so as to form an annular chamber receiving the yellow phosphorus. A heating jacket is disposed around the nozzle tube so as to form a heating chamber, the heating jacket having passed through it in its upper part firstly a double tube delivering warm water to the heating chamber and delivering yellow phosphorus to the annular chamber, and secondly a water outlet. A supporting flange is secured to the heating jacket, and a springloaded water outlet valve is provided in the bottom end portion of the control piston. The installation filling drums with liquid phosphorus with the use of the filling nozzle or lance substantially comprises a roller track which is arranged in inclined position. A rotating table is mounted after the fashion of a turret in the pivot on a vertical shaft. A stationary filling column is secured to the periphery of the rotating table, with filling nozzle. A switch and control desk or console are arranged at the back of the filling column, and a level driven roller track and a stripper are arranged on the periphery of the rotating table at the point at which the roller track commences.

United States Patent i191 Berg et al.

[111 3,908,719 [4 1 Sept. 30, 1975 INSTALLATION FOR FILLING DRUMS WITH LIQUID YELLOW PHOSPI-IORUS [75] Inventors: Leo Berg, Hurth-Alstadten; Erhard Johann Lenemann, Middelbourg, both of Netherlands; Johannes Wilhelmus Kinneging, Schwalback, Hesse, Germany 1 [73] Assignee: Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft,

Frankfurt am Main, Germany [22] Filed: Mar. 15, 1974 [21] Appl. No.: 451,425

Related US. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 280,806, Aug. 15, 1972, Pat. No.

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Aug. 18, 1971 Germany 2141314 [52] US. Cl. 141/82; 141/168; 141/270 [51] Int. Cl. B65B 3/04; B67C 3/26 [58] Field of Search 222/146 R, 146 H, 146 HS; 239/1321, 132.3, 132.5, 139, 416.4, 424;

Primary Examiner llouston S. Bell, Jr. Attorney, Agent, or FirmConnolly and Hutz [57] ABSTRACT Liquid yellow phosphorus is filled into drums with the use of a filling nozzle or lance. The nozzle or lance substantially comprises a control tube provided with a 1 plurality of perforations and connected at its top end portion to a cylindrical member which carries an eye for the connection of a control unit via a connecting piece of tubing. A nozzle supporting tube which concentrically surrounds the control tube and is provided in its upper part with a warm water inlet, carries at its bottom end a control cylinder with a control piston having a drilling running through it. The control piston is fixed to a nozzle tube via a conical bottom. At'its top end, the nozzle supporting tube has a gland with a supporting flange, the nozzle tube concentrically surrounding the nozzle supporting tube so as to form an annular chamber receiving the yellow phosphorus. A heating jacket is disposed around the nozzle tube so as to form a heating chamber, the heating jacket having passed through it in its upper'part firstly a double tube delivering warm water to the heating chamber and delivering yellow phosphorus to the annular chamber, and secondly a water outlet. A supporting flange is secured to theheating jacket, and'a spring-loaded water outlet valve is provided in the bottom end portion of the control piston.

The installation filling drums with liquid phosphorus with the use of the filling nozzle 01' lance substantially comprises a roller track which is arranged in inclined position. A rotating table is mounted after the fashion of a turret in the pivot on a vertical shaft. A stationary filling column is secured to the periphery of the rotating table, with filling nozzle. A switch and control desk or console are arranged at the back of the filling column, and a level driven roller track and a stripper are arranged on the periphery of the rotating table at the point at which the roller track commences.

5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures U.S. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 1 of4 3,908,719

FIG] 26 W b I 14 I 1 16 i I 2 i 17 11 2O 12 j 18 U.S. Pate nt Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 2 of 4 3,908,719

FIG.2

US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 3 of4 3,908,719

US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet4 0f4 3,908,719

INSTALLATION FOR FILLING DRUMS WITH LIQUID YELLOW PHOSPHORUS This is a division of application Ser. No. 280,806, filed Aug. 15, I972 issued as U.S. Pat. No. 3,834,622 on Sept. 10, I974. l

The present invention relates to an installation for filling drums with liquid yellow phosphorus with the use of the filling nozzle or lance.

It is known that liquid yellow phosphorus can be delivered from an overhead container to drums by means of siphons and a flexible pipe, the latter usually being made of lead, or of rubber, if desired. Before the containers are filled warm water is placed in them by hand. After siphoning the liquid yellow phosphorus with warm water the filling operation can take place; however, every time he changes the drum the operator must briefly interrupt the stream of phosphorus by holding the flexible pipe together with his fingers. Even though when filling liquid yellow phosphorus one always wears rubber gloves, there is always the risk of skin burns, especially if the rubber glove becomes defective when holding the flexible pipe together. Furthermore, it is always necessary to have a second operator on the elevated tank in order to pull the flexible pipe out of the elevated tank in the event that it is necessary to interrupt the filling operation. An immediate rinsing of the flexible pipe with warm water is essential in this case. Failing this, the residual phosphorus will solidify in the pipe and the latter will then be clogged. It is an object of the present invention to provide a nozzle or lance filling liquid yellow phosphorus into drums so as to avoid direct contact of persons with the liquid yellow phosphorus, and an installation using the filling nozzle or lance and filling drums with liquid yellow phosphorus substantially automatically.

The filling nozzle or lance used with the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawing, which shows the filling nozzle in longitudinal section.

The filling nozzle substantially comprises a nozzle pipe 1, a heatingjacket 2, a double tube (3, 4), a nozzle carrier tube 8 and a control tube 23. The double tube (3, 4) opens into heating jacket 2 near one side of its top end portion; on the opposite side there is arranged a warm water outlet 5. Secured to heating jacket 2 is a supporting flange 28. Welded on to nozzle tube 1, i.e. diametrally opposite one another, are two longitudinal ribs 7 for the guided flow of the heating water in heating chamber 6. Near their upper ends, heatingjacket 2 and nozzle pipe 1 are welded to a nozzle supporting pipe 8 via a lid 10, an intermediate ring 9 being arranged between nozzle tube 1 and the nozzle supporting pipe 8. At its bottom end portion the nozzle supporting tube 8 carries a control cylinder 11, which is welded via a conical bottom 12 to the nozzle tube 1. Secured to the top end of nozzle supporting tube 8 is a gland 13 with a flange 14 supporting the entire filling nozzle. Near to the top end of nozzle supporting tube 8 there is arranged a warm water inlet 15. Control pipe 23, which has a plurality of transverse perforations 33, is screwed at its bottom end with a drilled control piston 17 having a spring-loaded outlet valve 21 secured thereto. At its top end control tube 23 is screwed into a cylindrical member 24, in which a connecting piece of tubing 25 with an eye 26 is screwed for the connection of a control unit. The seal between control cylinder l1 and control piston 17 and also between gland l3 andcylindrical member 24 is in each case effected by means of a two-piece packing 18 or 34 with a central spacer ring or 35. The packings l8 and 34 are pressed in position by gland nut 19 or by clamping flange 27. I

Adjoining double tube (3, 4) via flange 32 there is a feed pipe which is a pressure hose 29 which is held by a screw union 30. The screw union 30 is fixed in tube 3. The pressure hose 29 is encased in a flexible hose 31 which ends between the flanges 32 and produces the connection with tube 4.

Between nozzle pipe 1 and heating jacket 2 there is a U-shaped heating chamber 6, and between nozzle tube 1 and nozzle supporting tube 8 there is an annular chamber 16 receiving phosphorus and inside nozzle supporting tube 8 is a warm-water chamber 22. The installation according to the invention will now be describedwith reference to FIGS. 2 to 4 of the accompanying drawing, wherein FIG. 2 represents a plan view of the entire installation,

FIG. 3 represents a front elevation of the filling section, and

FIG. 4 represents a side elevational view of the filling section with a drum transport device.

A roller track 36 in inclined position receiving empty drums 51 ends in front of a rotating table 37. The rotating table 37 is mounted after the fashion of a turret in the pivot on a vertical shaft 38. The annular flat table surface is subdivided into 16 zones. A deflecting means 57 is arranged near rotary table 37, where a flat driven roller track 58 begins. Mounted on a stationary filling column 59 is a vertically displaceable trolley 39 which can be raised orlowered by means of lifting cylinders 40 and which has a filling nozzle 41 fixed thereto via a supporting flange 14. A lifting cylinder 56 arranged above springs 53, a pressure plate 54 and a coupling rod 55 actuates control piston 17 in filling nozzle 41.

Via pipes (29, 31) hot water and phosphorus are fed to... filling nozzle 41, and via pipe 48 warm water is fed .to

it. The discharge of the heating water from filling nozzle 41 is effected via a pipe provided with a regulating valve 49 and inspection glass 50 into drum 51. Transverse strutsarranged on trolley 39 carry water feed pipes 52. Arranged on the rear of stationary column 59- is a switch and control desk 42, which is secured against the filling zone by a semicircular transparent protective wall 43. Secured to supporting flange 28 are a drum cover 44 and a supporting cross 47. The supporting cross 47 is fitted (this not shown in the drawing) with probes for determining the level of phosphorus and water in the drum. Between the supporting cross 47 and the drum cover 44 there are fitted springs which are pushed by guide pins 46.

' The installation of the present invention is operated as follows:

Drums 51 are placed on roller track 35 inclined in the direction of rotating table 37 and arrive at rotating table 37.

The drive of rotating table 37 is locked in such a way that during the filling process no transportation can take place on filling column 59, and after this only by one zone at a time. Accordingly on deflecting means 57 'there is connected by a lock a drum which is on driven roller track 58.

A preliminary supply of warm water into the empty drum can be carried out via water feed pipe 52. The lowering of filling nozzle 41 is effected by actuating lifting cylinders 40. The supporting cross 47 with the probes for the phosphorus level and warm water level settles on the rim of the drum, and when it is lowered further pins 46 arranged in supporting cross 47 actuate limit switches on drum cover 44, after which the nozzle remains in this position. If the water probe indicates that the filling nozzle does not dip in the water, it is necessary primarily to add warm water via pipe 48 and outlet valve 21 of filling nozzle 41, before lifting cylinder 56 can raise control piston 17. As a result, the outflow of liquid yellow phosphorus under water is rendered possible. By springs 53 control piston 17 is lowered as soon as the phosphorus level in the drum has reached the phosphorus probe. Following this, the raising of filling nozzle 41 by means of lifting cylinders 40 is released. After trolley 39 has run up against the top limit switch, rotating table 37 moves forward by one zone, and when this happens deflecting means 57 pushes a filled drum on to roller track 58, whilst a drum 51 is passed on to rotating table 37 from roller track 36.

The filling nozzle of the present invention comprises more particularly a control pipe 23 having a plurality of perforations through it and connected at its top end portion with a cylindrical member 24 which, via a connecting piece of pipe 25, carries an eye 26 for connecting up a control unit; a nozzle supporting pipe 8, which concentrically surrounds the control pipe 23 and is provided in its upper portion with a warm-water inlet 15, the nozzle supporting pipe 8 carrying at its bottom end a control cylinder 11 with a control piston 17 having a hole drilled through it which is fixed via a conical bottom 12 to a nozzle pipe 1, and at its top end has a gland 13 with supporting flange 14; the nozzle pipe 1 concentrically surrounding the nozzle supporting tube 8 so as to form an annular chamber receiving yellow phosphorus; a heating jacket 2 around nozzle tube 1 so as to form a heating chamber 6, the heating jacket 2 having passed through it in its upper end firstly a double tube (3, 4) delivering warm water to heating chamber 6 and delivering yellow phosphorus to annular chamber 16, and secondly a water outlet a supporting flange 28 which is fixed on to heating jacket 2, and a springloaded water outlet valve 21 near the bottom end of control piston 17.

Further preferred embodiment of the filling nozzle used with the present invention, which can be used singly or in combination, provide:

a. for two longitudinal ribs to be secured diametrally opposite one another to the outside of nozzle pipe b. for an intermediate ring 9 to be arranged on the top end off nozzle pipe 1 between said pipe and nozzle supporting pipe 8;

c. for a two-part packing 18 interrupted by a spacer ring 20, the packing being held by a gland nut 19 fixed on control cylinder 11, to be arranged in control cylinder 11;

d. for a two-part packing 34 interrupted by a spacer 35, which is pressed in position by a clamping flange 27 connected with the supporting flange 14 to be arranged in gland 13.

The installation of the present invention comprises more particularly a roller track 36 arranged in inclined position; a turret-type rotating table 37 mounted at its pivot on a vertical shaft 38; a stationary filling column 59 which is arranged on the periphery of rotating table 37, with a filling nozzle 41; a switch and control desk or console 42 arranged on the rear offilling column 59; a flat driven roller track 58 and a deflecting means 57 which is arranged on the periphery of the rotating table 37 at the place at which roller track 58 commences.

Further embodiments of the installation of the present invention, which can be used singly or in combination, provide:

e. for a trolley 39 movable vertically by means of lifting cylinders 40, and having filling nozzle4l fixed thereto via supporting flange 14 to be secured to filling column 59;

f. for a transparent semicircular protective wall 43 to be arranged between filling nozze 41 and switch and control desk or console 42;

g. for a drum cover 44, to which there is fitted a supporting cross 47 by means of guide pins 46 with springs 45 therebetween, to be secured to supporting flange 28 of filling nozzle 41;

h. for the supporting cross 47 to have probes for measuring the phosphorus and water level;

i. for the control piston 17 of filling nozzle 41, which is held in the closed position by springs 53, a pressure plate 54 and a coupling rod'55, to be actuated by a lifting cylinder 56;

j. for the switching and control desk or console 42 to receive impulses from the probes on supporting cross 47 and from lifting cylinders and to transmit adjustment instructions to lifting cylinder 56 and the drives of rotating table 37 and roller track 58, the lifting cylinder 56 opening into control piston 17 of filling nozzle 41 only when filling nozzle 41 dips into water, the drives of rotating table 37 and of roller track 58 starting running only when the lifting cylinders 40 have reached their top end point.

The annular chamber 16 of the filling nozzle of the present invention in which the phosphorus flows is surrounded on both sides with warm-water heated chambers in view of the melting point of phosphorus (C) (heating chamber 6, warm-water chamber 22). This ensures undisturbed actuation of control piston 17. In chamber 22 the warm water is always under a certain pressure which prevents phosphorus from penetrating thereinto.

An important component of control cylinder 11 is the two-part gland 18 interrupted by a spacer ring-20. In the zone of spacer ring 20 it is possible for the phosphorus to leave filling nozzle 41 from annular chamber 16. The installation of the present invention can be completely automated by using the filling nozzle, which reliably enables the flow of phosphorus to be interrupted and re-started without manual interference, by means of a usual synchronised switching system.

In this case the following cycle is used:

1. Filling the drum, which is placed on rotating table 37 on the zone in front of filling nozzle 41, with water. Ending of the filling by a time relay, because overflow or only partial filling offer no problem.

2. Turning rotating table 37 round by a further zone.

3. Lowering filling nozzle 41 by actuating lifting cylinders 40; fixing theend point of filling nozzle 41 by means of limit switches which are arranged on drum cover 44 and are released by guide pins 46 in supporting cross 47.

4. Checking the water level in the drum by a probe secured tosupporting cross 47. If the water level is too low, a make-up supply is effected through pipe 48 and outlet valve 21.

5. Pulling up control piston -17 by actuating lifting cylinder 46, after which the phosphorus flows into the drum under water.

6. Lowering control piston 17 if the phosphorus level probe arranged on the supporting cross 47 responds.

7. Lifting filling nozzle 41 by actuating lifting cylinders 40 until trolley 39 runs up against the top limit switch.

We claim:

1. An installation for filling drums with liquid yellow phosphorus, the installation comprising a roller track receiving empty drums and being arranged in inclined position with respect to, and terminating ahead of, an annular rotating table receiving the empty drums coming from the roller track and being mounted in the manner of a turret in the pivot on a vertical shaft; a stationary filling column arranged on the periphery of the rotating table, and filling the empty drums through a filling nozzle secured thereto; a driven roller track arranged level with the rotating table for conveying the filled drums; a deflecting means arranged on the periphery of the rotating table for delivering the filled drums to the driven roller track; a vertically displaceable trolley being movable, on a bracket secured to the stationary filling column by means of a plurality of first lifting cylinders lifting the trolley and the filling nozzle connected thereto; the filling nozzle being comprised of:

a. a plurality of coaxial tubes,

b. a double-walled tubular inlet delivering yellow phosphorus and warm water, respectively,

c. a water inlet and a water outlet,

d. a first supporting flange being secured to the outer of said coaxial tubes, and i i e. a second supporting flange being secured to the head of one of the inner of said coaxial tubes, said second supporting flange connecting the filling nozzle to the trolley; a drum cover being secured to a supporting cross and to the first supporting flange of the filling nozzle, and being placed on the drums on lowering the trolley; and a switch and control console arranged at the outside of the stationary filling column.

2. The installation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the trolley is fitted with a second lifting cylinder connected to the filling nozzle.

3. The installation as claimed in claim 2, wherein a pressure plate and a coupling rod are arranged between the second lifting cylinder and the filling nozzle.

4. The installation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting cross is secured to the drum cover by guide pins, which are surrounded by springs in the area besole. 

1. An installation for filling drums with liquid yellow phosphorus, the installation comprising a roller track receiving empty drums and being arranged in inclined position with respect to, and terminating ahead of, an annular rotating table receiving the empty drums coming from the roller track and being mounted in the manner of a turret in the pivot on a vertical shaft; a stationary filling column arranged on the periphery of the rotating table, and filling the empty drums through a filling nozzle secured thereto; a driven roller track arranged level with the rotating table for conveying the filled drums; a deflecting means arranged on the periphery of the rotating table for delivering the filled drums to the driven roller track; a vertically displaceable trolley being movable, on a bracket secured to the stationary filling column by means of a plurality of first lifting cylinders lifting the trolley and the filling nozzle connected thereto; the filling nozzle being comprised of: a. a plurality of coaxial tubes, b. a double-walled tubular inlet delivering yellow phosphorus and warm water, respectively, c. a water inlet and a water outlet, d. a first supporting flange being secured to the outer of said coaxial tubes, and e. a second supporting flange being secured to the head of one of the inner of said coaxial tubes, said second supporting flange connecting the filling nozzle to the trolley; a drum cover being secured to a supporting cross and to the first supporting flange of the filling nozzle, and being placed on the drums on lowering the trolley; and a switch and control console arranged at the outside of the stationary filling column.
 2. The installation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the trolley is fitted with a second lifting cylinder connected to the filling nozzle.
 3. The installation as claimed in claim 2, wherein a pressure plate and a coupling rod are arranged between the second lifting cylinder and the filling nozzle.
 4. The installation as claimed in claim 1, wherein the supporting cross is secured to the drum cover by guide pins, which are surrounded by springs in the area between the supporting cross and the drum cover.
 5. The installation as claimed in claim 1, wherein a transparent semicircular protective wall is arranged between the filling nozzle and the switch and control console. 